The Themes

As Design in India is highly varied, the project has been divided to broader categories which will then talk about individual designs. The nature of the theme can be focused on communication devices, on products, spaces or even systems and practices.

Each design talks about its User Experience, the functional and manufacturing details of the product. Our research team has put in a lot of sweat and blood in coming up with original photographs, researching from the limited information available.

Our content is ever growing and so are the themes. Some of the initial themes covered are: —

DAILY USE OBJECTS

We see them everyday .We use them almost everyday. We pass by them in our house. But have we even wondered over the spectacle they are! Have we wondered over how they really are so easy to use and have never betrayed their original form and continue to be as efficient as ever generations over generations? So, some people actually sat down to make life easy for all of us (or for them)! The first of the Design Mela: a Design Awareness series introduces you to some of the Indian Household objects which we have shortlisted as design marvels. They are simple in their form easy to use, frugal and easily available in any Indian market.Click here to read about them

INDIAN TRADITIONAL GAMES:

These games are played all over India with slight variations. They have been played and passed through generations. They are truly the representation of our country. Simple in design, meant for all, easy to execute require no additional props than the ones in surroundings to be implemented. Truly, some UX design already in action since decades!Click here to read about them

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN INDIA:

Long before the world starting chanting ‘go green’, we at India were already following the mantra: yes, unknowingly though! But, the practices become all the more relevant in today’s time. It’s the need of the hour that we not only celebrate these age old traditions, but keep them alive too. We look forward to your ideas and contributions to add to this section.Click here to read about them

LOW COST PRODUCTS BRANDING AND PACKAGING:

Some call them gaudy, some dandy, some refer it to as Indian kitsch, and most have never even analyzed them consciously. We can call it whatever we want, but it’s simply impossible to ignore the eye –catching, pupil blaring branding and graphics on Indigenous packaging.

In this section we will discuss and analyze the graphics on Indian packaging of products less than rupees ten rupees. What are the palletes, typical graphical elements etc. that establish janta ki brands and drive the masses subconsciously to make the purchasing decisions. The focus will be to look at them as drivers of a good section of graphic communication in IndiaClick here to read about them

LOW COST TOYS

Tak tak ..tak.. Tak..trrr.. trr…Duk …duk….duk.. tak ….

Welcome to the world of lndian toys These indigenous toys are the ones to be looked out for in melas on festive occcasions. There’s a certain thrill to be derived to hold one of these toys in on our hands and play with it. It’s the inescapable pleasure of childhood fun that each of these give to us . We explore some of them in our Indian Low cost Toys section here. The divisions are broadly based on material usage .Click here to read about them

INDIAN TRADITIONAL DRESS: the unofficial uniforms

So, when does a daily wear become an unofficial uniform of generations to come? Walk on the streets of India and look closely. You are sure to see a pattern in the way people are dressing and if you do connect the dots, these clothes are more utilitarian in nature with a bit of space for stylization. In this section we explore the various forms of clothing and accessories which have become synonymous with people of a particular profession. Some of them are observed trends and few seem to be emerging patterns.Click here to read about them